First off, HUGE props to you if you’re doing anything distance learning/back to school/kids on a new schedule related. You are far braver than me.

I wanted to share something that came up in a book I’m reading. For those of you who’d rather hear about it than read about it, feel free to check out This episode of Maestro on the Mic (#239).

As I was saying, I’m currently reading The One Thing by Gary Keller (yes, I’m still reading it, and yes, that is an affiliate link), and in it, the author suggests a form of time scheduling in which you block off your ‘fun' time first, and then manage the rest of your time around those blocks. I believe in the book he uses the example of scheduling vacation first, but clearly the same approach could be taken to a single week, or even a single day.

When I first read this part of the book it struck me how similar this form of organization is to the money management system of Profit First. I’ve had such great success with Profit First that I can’t help but forecast equally positive results should one choose to block out their schedule as such, and then actually honor their personal commitments and boundaries.

That in mind, I’m writing to you today with the perhaps rhetorical but hopefully not so rhetorical question of:

What would happen if you scheduled and blocked off your ‘fun' time first, and then managed the rest of your time around those blocks?

Taking it a step farther, what would happen If you set hard limits around that time that you want solely to be spent on the ‘fun’ stuff, aka rest, recovery, vacation, family time, etc. and then fully committed to getting your shit done in the remaining time? No spilling over into the fun time. No borrowing from the reserves. Just 100% upholding of the boundaries and honoring the commitments you made to yourself.

Of note, please do not confuse this with doing the fun stuff first. I’m not saying that at all. I’m talking about making it the first thing that you put on the schedule, not the first thing to do on the schedule.

I’ve yet to officially implement this system, but like I discuss in the podcast episode, I realized that I’ve been doing some form of this for a few years, and it’s actually what’s gotten me to where I am today.

Yes, I am constantly creating content and from the outside it may look like I’m always working. Those who have come to visit me however will tell you that my life is actually quite relaxing with very little stress. Just ask Rupert. It wasn’t always like this though.

While living in NYC and trying to figure out what I wanted my life to look like, I found that it actually easier to write a list of things that I did NOT want and then work towards crossing those things off. One of the things on that list was waking up early, and you bet your ass that it was top priority to cross that off as soon as possible. Looking back, I realize that I essentially blocked off that time and forced myself to get things done during other times, be it weekends or later workdays. My schedule is even better now, but getting here absolutely started with blocking off the ‘fun’ stuff first (in that case it was sleep) and then getting the necessary stuff done in time remaining.

To quote the great Wini Linguvic, “Deadlines work better than inspiration.”

So, again I ask: What would happen if you scheduled and blocked off your ‘fun' time first, and then managed the rest of your time around those blocks?

Just a little food for thought.